Bishop Auckland captain Craig Langthorne believes the side can make history when it takes on Portsmouth in the final of the Under-15s English Schools Trophy.

Bishops have been to the final once before, but on that occasion five years ago they lost to South Notts 3-0 on aggregate, holding their opponents 0-0 in the return leg but losing out after conceding three goals in the first leg at Mansfield.

Now, after travelling to the North West and defeating highly-rated Liverpool in the semi-final last weekend, the 15-year-old Middlesbrough Academy defender believes they can go one better.

"I think we have got the ability to do it, so I don't see why not," he said. "We just have to play our normal game - don't let them faze us at all and go into it thinking we are going to win."

The first leg of the final is going to be played at Durham City's Archibald Stadium on March 31, while the return is scheduled for Premiership side Portsmouth's Fratton Park ground on April 21.

"It would help if we could get a few goals advantage to take back down to their place," said the Newton Aycliffe youngster. "We have never played a two-legged final before so it's going to be a different experience for us.

"Playing at Fratton Park is going to be fantastic. It will probably be the best stadium a few of us will ever play in. It's a great honour."

The side have been together since Under-13 level and have yet to be beaten in a competitive fixture and Langthorn says this means they have built up a strong bond.

"Whatever happens, even if we are getting beat, we still seem able to find something in us," he said. "We never lose our heads. Liverpool had a man sent off and two booked, but we always keep our discipline.

"We are all sensible lads and have good support from family and friends."

This is the team's third and final year together and Langthorn said there would be no better way to sign off than to be crowned champions.

"We have quite a few Academy players. Some at Newcastle, Sunderland, Darlington and Hartlepool, so we will all go our different ways," he said.

"To lift the trophy would mean everything to us, it would be unbelievable."

The team is managed by the trio of Kelvin Simpson, Steven Hepples and Andrew Bell, and Simpson, a teacher at St. John's, Bishop Auckland, has complete faith in the boys.

"I have taken three previous Under-15 teams and they are easily as able, but they are a better balanced squad," he said. "I think the major strength is that from players one to 16 we have got 16 highly able lads. We have had to use the lot because of injuries and it doesn't matter who goes on the pitch. The 16th man could be in starting 11."

Simpson is also proud of the way the boys play the game. "If you combine the talent they have got with the attitude and team spirit I think that explains it all," he said. "It would be a fantastic achievement for a team, that places as much emphasis on how you play the game as the results, to go on and lift the trophy. We would be an excellent role model for other organisations."